Illegal construction near Karachi's Hill Park demolished in anti-encroachment drive

KARACHI: Authorities carried out an anti-encroachment operation at Hill Park early on Wednesday, demolishing a boundary wall that had been built on a plot created through what officials described as the unauthorised cutting of a hillside.

According to official sources, unlawful structures in the surrounding area were also cleared during the operation, which was undertaken following directives issued by Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab. An official said the anti-encroachment cell led the action with support from teams of the land department.

The official said the encroached portions around Hill Park had been removed to recover public land and stop further illegal occupation. "The action has been conducted by anti-encroachment cell with teams from the land department actively participating in the enforcement drive. The encroached portions around Hill Park were fully removed to restore public land and prevent further illegal occupation," they told Dawn.

However, some residents expressed concern that construction activity could resume, saying the structure had not been razed completely during the drive.

Land department officer suspended

In a separate administrative move, deputy director of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's land department Muhammad Noman has been suspended from service. The action was taken under an official order issued by the KMC human resources department.

According to officials, the suspended officer had earlier issued a No Objection Certificate for construction activity on land in the vicinity of Hill Park. An official said authorities had decided to initiate formal disciplinary proceedings against him through a charge sheet.

The same official said the suspension was linked to irregular approvals that allegedly facilitated unauthorised construction in the area.